Croatia: Court Convicts Ten in Corruption and EU Funds Misuse Case Involving Ministry of Culture and Faculty of Geodesy

The County Court in Zagreb has delivered its first verdict in a high-profile case involving corruption and the misuse of EU funds, implicating the Ministry of Culture and the Faculty of Geodesy. Ten individuals were convicted following an indictment by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in December 2025, which targeted 29 Croatian individuals and one company. The case centers on an alleged coordinated scheme involving a former deputy minister of Culture and Media, a former dean of the Faculty of Geodesy, and a former professor, alongside representatives of private companies. These individuals are accused of manipulating 27 public procurement procedures tied to four EU-funded projects valued at nearly €6 million. The alleged misconduct included steering contracts to favored companies through kickbacks, submitting false or inflated bids, and misusing project funds for personal gain.
The former deputy minister is specifically accused of assigning earthquake damage documentation work to the Faculty of Geodesy despite its lack of capacity to perform the task. This decision allegedly enabled contracts to be awarded to a company controlled by the former dean and professor, while also involving the certification of false or inflated reports. The alleged misconduct is said to have caused damages totaling €2.8 million, with €1.2 million affecting the EU budget, €1.4 million impacting the Croatian state budget, and €200,000 affecting the Faculty itself.
The convictions stem from a plea bargain, with ten defendants admitting guilt to charges of aiding and abetting abuse of office, money laundering, abuse of public procurement procedures, and forgery of official or commercial documents. Three defendants received prison sentences ranging from five to 11 months, which were converted into community service. Two of them were also ordered to pay accessory fines of €20,000 and €70,000. The remaining seven defendants received suspended prison sentences, with five also facing fines of up to €20,000.
The proceedings against the remaining 19 defendants, including the former deputy minister, the former dean, and the ex-professor, are still ongoing. The case underscores the complexities of accountability in public institutions and the need for transparency in the use of public and EU funds. As the legal process continues, the focus remains on ensuring justice is served and that the integrity of public resources is upheld. Proverbs 11:1 reminds us that “the Lord detests dishonest scales, but he delights in accurate weights,” a principle that should guide all efforts toward accountability and justice.

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